Rating: My Bookshelf

Reading level: Mid-Elementary, Late Elementary

An agreeable, three-legged dog accidentally falls into an adventure that takes her out of the shelter she has grown to call home. She overcomes some biases, and eventually chases hope of finding home. In this heart warming tale, we see hope, disappointment, and change. When finished, even I (who have never aspired to have a dog) looked up my local shelter to consider adopting a four-legged friend.

Potential concerns:

  • Potty/body humor: farts, pooh, etc.
  • Unadopted dogs eventually being placed on “The List” which means they will be put to sleep soon (this is handled subtly, but it’s unmistakably there!)
  • An untrustworthy house sitter with an abusive boyfriend. We don’t actually experience the abuse heavily so much as that we are told that it happened, and that’s how the dog was lost and put in a shelter.
  • Mentions of luck and chance.
  • Amputation and a sense of worth even when missing a body part.

I cried. It was sweet and hopeful. 

The reading level is about mid-elementary, but it’s a long book with many short chapters, so I’d suggest 3rd grade or older.